College football's 10 best offensive trifectas
These three-headed monsters keep defensive coordinators up at night.
Some teams have a great quarterback. Some have a bell cow running back. Others have an unstoppable receiver on the outside. But there are the rare programs that have all three, a triumvirate of offensive firepower.
These are the top trifectas entering the 2017 college football season.
1. Oklahoma State – QB Mason Rudolph, RB Justice Hill, WR James Washington
Two thirds of Oklahoma State's trifecta are possible first-round draft picks in next spring's NFL Draft. Rudolph threw for more than 4,000 yards as a junior and has all his weapons back. Those weapons include Washington, a 1,300-yard receiver from the fall who's one of the game's most explosive big-play threats. Justice Hill rounds out the group after leading all freshman running backs nationally last fall with 1,142 rushing yards.
2. Penn State – QB Trace McSorley, RB Saquon Barkley, TE Mike Gesicki
You could make a strong argument that Trace McSorley was the best quarterback in the Big Ten last fall. In his second year playing in offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead's system, he is expected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country in 2017. Saquon Barkley is a virtual lock to be a first-rounder in next year's NFL Draft at running back and tight end Mike Geisicki is one of the best big-bodied pass catchers in college football.
3. Washington – QB Jake Browning, RB Myles Gaskin, WR Dante Pettis
Despite losing a first-round draft pick in John Ross, Washington still returns one of the most dangerous threesomes in the game. Dante Pettis and his 15 receiving touchdowns steps into Ross' shoes as Browning's go-to receiver and Myles Gaskin's 1,373 rushing yards will pace the ground game. Browning, who threw for 43 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a sophomore, just needs to continue to be Mr. reliable for this trio to click.
4. Missouri – QB Drew Lock, RB Damarea Crockett, WR J'Mon Moore
A trifecta that many outside of the SEC may not be familiar with, this is the year that these guys hit the national stage. Drew Lock threw for more than 3,300 yards in his sophomore season in what was a huge leap forward from his freshman campaign. As a junior, he'll be targeting the SEC's only returning 1,000-yard receiver in J'Mon Moore. Damarea Crockett has breakout star potential after rushing for over 1,000 yards as a true freshman last fall.
5. West Virginia – QB Will Grier, RB Justin Crawford, WR Ka'Raun White
Will Grier looked like the real deal in the WVU spring game and before his unceremonious departure from Florida he looked poised to be one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. With Crawford in the backfield (1,184 yards rushing) and White looking to be the next uber-productive Mountaineers wideout, Grier inherits some serious talent. All the Mountaineers were missing last year was a quarterback. Grier will be their best since Geno Smith.
6. Alabama – QB Jalen Hurts, RB Bo Scarbrough, WR Calvin Ridley
Jalen Hurts, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year as a true freshman, returns as the undisputed leader of the offense. Bo Scarbrough, after rushing for more than 90 yards in each of Alabama's last four games, looks like the most likely candidate to be the workhorse in Alabama's loaded backfield. Calvin Ridley with more than 1,800 yards receiving in two years looks like the go-to receiver in what should be a more competent passing attack this fall. That is of course unless any one of the three loses his job to one of Alabama's other 5-stars on the bench.
7. Southern Cal – QB Sam Darnold, RB Ronald Jones II, WR Deontay Burnett
Sam Darnold may be college football's most-talked about talent. He's the early projected top overall pick in next spring's NFL Draft after throwing for more than 3,000 yards and turning around USC's season. Ronald Jones II operates out of a crowded backfield but is an elite talent and rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year. Deontay Burnett had a breakout performance in the Rose Bowl and needs to have a breakout season as a junior as USC looks for the next go-to guy following the departure of Juju Smith-Schuster to the NFL.
8. Washington State – QB Luke Falk, RB James Williams, WR Tavares Martin
Falk is the most productive returning passer in college football with 4,468 yards last season to his credit. He's got a massive arm and a wide-open offense at his disposal but he'll be looking most frequently for Tavares Martin. In terms of pure talent, Martin tops Gabe Marks, who leaves Washington State as the Pac-12's all-time leading receiver. In the backfield, there are high expectations for James Williams. There will be a backfield rotation with Jamal Morrow and Gerard Wicks but expect Williams to emerge in 2017.
9. South Carolina – QB Jake Bentley, RB Rico Dowdle, WR Deebo Samuel
There are trifectas with a lot more gaudy statistics to their credit but if you've been paying attention to these three, you've got high expectations for their future. Bentley and Dowdle both stole starting jobs midseason to become foundational pieces to South Carolina as true freshmen last fall. They have the look of guys that can really surge as sophomores. Deebo Samuel caught 59 passes for 783 yards last fall but now that Bentley is the permanent starter, those numbers should continue to swell.
10. Toledo – QB Logan Woodside, RB Terry Swanson, WR Cody Thompson
Logan Woodside took the MAC by storm last season by throwing for more than 4,100 yards and 45 touchdowns. A big chunk of that production was due to Cody Thompson at wide receiver. He caught 64 passes for more than 1,200 yards at nearly 20 yards per reception. The third head on their three-headed monster last season was Kareem Hunt, now a Kansas City Chief. But Terry Swanson was a talented backup that rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in 2015 and over 500 in 2016. As the primary back in 2017, he'll put up big numbers.
Other trifectas to watch:
Notre Dame – QB Brandon Wimbush, RB Josh Adams, WR Equanimeous St. Brown
Mississippi State – QB Nick Fitzgerald, RB Aeris Williams, WR Donald Gray
Texas – QB Shane Buechele, RB Chris Warren, WR Collin Johnson
Ohio State – QB J.T. Barrett, RB Mike Weber, WR Johnnie Dixon
FSU – QB Deondre Francois, RB Cam Akers, WR Nyqwan Murray
Auburn – QB Jarrett Stidham, RB Kerryon Johnson, WR Darius Slayton
Georgia – QB Jacob Eason, RB Nick Chubb, TE Isaac Nauta
Memphis – QB Riley Ferguson, RB Doroland Dorceus, WR Anthony Miller
Oregon – QB Justin Herbert, RB Royce Freeman, WR Darren Carrington
Sparty is going to be buns this year bruh and I aint even trolling. This off season has been terrible for them.
